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Show page 4 may 12, 1972 signpost am - P always done it? 7 costly words by mike dabling editor-in-chief One of the biggest challenges today is overcoming seven costly words, "But we've always done it this way!" Over and over again things are being done in the same routine way in government, business, industry and academic institutions because few ask, "Why can't we find a new or better way? How can it be done at less cost?" Supervisors, managers and administrators overlook potential areas for improvement and even discourage workers and students from suggesting new and better work methods, simply becuase "we've always done it this way." A story from the pages of history indicates this is not a modern phenomenon: When Bismark was Prussian ambassador at the Court of Alexander II in 1860, he asked the Czar why a sentry was on duty in the middle of a lawn at the palace. The Czar asked his aide-de-camp. The aide-de-camp did not know. The officer in command did not know. The commending general was asked, "Why is that soldier stationed in that isolated place?" "I beg leave to inform Your Majesty that it is in accordance with ancient custom." "What was the origin of the custom?" asked Bismark. "I do not recall at present," answered the general. "Investigate . and report the result," ordered Alexander. The investigation took three days. They found that the sentry was posted by an order put on the books 80 years before. Catherine the Great looked out and saw the first Spring flower thrusting above the frozen soil. She ordered a sentry to prevent anyone from picking the flower. And 80 years later, a sentry remained a memorial to a flower and to Catherine the Great; or if you will, a memorial to habit, custom or just everyone saying, "But we've always done it this way." warfield-graham expounds student rights, recourses Dear Editor: As an interested and concerned student I can lay dead no longer and listen to students ask direct and important questions and receive no answers of merit. I can not watch legitimate complaints go unattended by our elected student body officers. So I direct this letter to Dennis Wakefield, Kerry Bates, "Name witheld at Writer's Request" and other interested students. You are all rrght, students are last on the Totem pole. Weber State College students-that is! Dig these apples for about five minutes. Each Quarter you pay $5 in Activities fees which goes to the Senate (Legislative branch of Student Government) to do with as they see fit. Each quarter you pay $2 in Union Activities fees to assist in the administration of the U.B. and to have Union Activities and programs. Each Quarter you pay $15 to help pay off the bond which financed the building of the U.B. Each Quarter you pay $1 alumni fees to help administer the Alumni Office in the U.B. This means each student pays a minimum of $69 every year to Student Government and the Student Union Building. You have an investment and you elect most of the people responsible for making policies concerning the U.B. The Chief Administrator of the U.B. is Dan Hunter (Student President) along with his four vice-presidents Fran Wheeler, Jerry Barns, Tom Davenport, and Phil Johnson. Then there are staff administrators Farrell Shepherd (U.B. Director), Curtis Smout (Student Government Coordinator), Ray Myers (Student Activities Coordinator) and Alan Dayley (Dean of Students). However all major U.B. policy decision are made by the Union Building Policy Board. It is composed of the following students-Dan Hunter, Jerry Burns, Fran Wheeler, Tom Davenport, Phil Johnson, Glen Curtis, Dave Broadbent, Rob Alley, Dave Merkley, Michael Shafer, and Art LaFeber. The following faculty are members-President William Miller, Dr. Clark (Administrative V.P.), Dr. Foulger (Financial V.P.), Dr. Dayley (Dean of Students), Marv Peterson (Assistant Dean of Students), Mrs. Tyler (Dean of Women), Dr. Dix Cloward (Faculty Rep.) Farrell Shepherd (U.B. Director) and Roy C Nelson (Alumni Rep.) Do not be fooled THESE PEOPLE CAN CHANGE THE POLICIES YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT! See your Studentbody President, Dan Hunter, who is chairman of this policy board. He can call a meeting to discuss your requests. I will be happy to join any group of interested students. Remember it is YOUR money, YOUR officers and YOUR Union. There is student control-USE IT! A Concerned Student, Byron Warfield-Graham student reformers urged to act now by byron warHeld-graham co-chairman Students' non-partisan organization The past decade has been a very politically active one for young people (those 25 years and younger). Students, in particular, were leading the fight for reform in our social institutions and a greater voice in the decisions which affect their lives. Recognition as a fully enfranchised citizen was among the seemingly endless demands presented by the young. Our political system and its institutions were questioned and challenged almost to the limit of their patience. After the Democratic fiasco in Chicago in 1968, the young intensified their scrutiny and criticism of our two-party system. The young felt they were excluded from real participation in the political system by age limitations, filing fees and residency requirements. They also claimed most parties were controlled by a "Boss Political Machine" on the local level which prevented any change of the status quo. The young did and still do have many legitimate complaints. However, the youth of Weber County ought to realize that they are now on "the pot and, if they do not have the urge, they ought to get off" and, while they are withdrawing "into the fetal position," stop complaining.Between the 26th Amendment, a few Attorney General decisions, and the Weber County Clerk and his staff, the pathway to full political participation has been paved. Anyone who will be 18 years old by Novemember 6, 1972, has lived in Utah six months and Weber County 60 days, is eligible for full political participation. All one has to do is register to vote at the County Clerk's Office in the Ogden Municipal Building on any weekday. The County Clerk and his staff desire only a proof of age and some indication that you desire Utah as your residence. They actually appear to enjoy registering potential young voters. The Attorney General feels that even a 17-year-old (who will be 18 before November 7) may participate in partisan politics at every level (except hold offices where there is an age limit). Nevertheless, the candidates, platform and direction of the various parties can be decided with the help of young people. They may also become officers in their respective parties. All they have to do is attend their mass meeting on Monday, May 15. Each registered party should hold a mass meeting in every voting district. These meetings may begin at 7:30 or 8 p.m. and must last a minimum of one hour. Young people should attend these meetings with other registered friends (in their voting district). They should nominate and elect themselves and their friends as chairman of the district and as the delegates to the County Convention on June 10. The delegate positions are the most important if they desire to have a real voice in county, state, and to a minor degree, national political party affairs. The information on the time and place of mass meetings may be obtained from the County Clerk's office or from your local political party headquarters. The chairman of the local Democratic Party is Ray Hansen; the local Republican chairman, Ben Fowler. The Democrats list their phone numbers as 394-6866 and 394-6762; the Republicans, as 392-6754 and 621-1117. (These are the numbers listed with the County Clerk's office.) One should expect resistence from the older established political officers. The people benefiting by the status quo do not necessarily want new ideas, policies, and especially new officers. Young voters must try the present political system. It may be a painful and frustrating ordeal. Please do not allow the older generation the comfort of saying "we were willing to work with them, but they would not come." As was previously stated, "They put you on the pot because you said you had to. If you don't have the urge, get off the pot and stop lying." dermis smith curious over issue; attacks leaders' logic, arguments Dear Editor, I am stuck with an intense curiosity about the controversy over the issue of partisan politics in the last election. Val Smith stated the personal benefits that Phil Johnson has received. This is quite unfair. I campaigned on this subject and as 86 votes to Frans 980 can testify, the students didn't feel this was even important. Not only that, but Val brought up the very same points that were ignored way when. When I brought them up. As a debater he should realize that dead arguments win no points. As for Phil's logic, Val's statement about Phi's English 3 teacher is both A Priori and an example of Petitio Principii. His other statement about Phil paying himself is Non Sequitur, and that of Ignoratio Elenci. The reason is Phil did not pay himself, the Senate did, and Fran Wheeler presided over it with Don Huges, a debater on it. Now as to Phil's earlier statement. The debaters couldn't help but win. Mike Waggoner had their open support, Fran Wheeler has debated, Keven probably would have been sympathetic, and I'm a professional speaker all involved in speech. Maybe Phil should have his fellow executive officer Fran explain what his position is. In futher rebuttal on Phil, calling people special interest groups is ridiculous. An equally good (?) case could be made for recalling that Delta Phi Kappa has tried to take over student government. Phil is taking the attitude that the voters can be fooled. Well maybe, after all they did elect him and defeat me. Sincerely, with sour grapes, Dennis Smith |